oceanseagle12

Is there a designated spot for Uber/Lyft pickup?

I’m sailing next week. My show reservations show in my calendar. 

It is definitive and I’ve seen other posts on this recently. Everyone in a cabin checks in together. They will not separate you. Just follow the instructions for expedited and you will be fine.

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Just a note for anyone who might be considering doing something like this, and asking for forgiveness later (and paying the fine), the fine is now $778.

Thanks for sharing your experience OP. I just want to note for those who may see this later. OP docked in Port Everglades, (Fort Lauderdale), and flew from the Fort Lauderdale airport. Starting in November, Allure will be sailing from Miami, so that difference will need to be considered for anyone looking at flights then.

is it possible for other TA's to be holding rooms? I'd gladly book with one of them if I could figure out who might have a room available.

I think it is possible that a TA has group space blocked off with some doubles. I’m not allowed to point you to a site or a specific TA. But I can tell you that at least three times I’ve obtained quotes from a website that allows you to enter the cruise you’re looking at and get responses back from a TA, and a TA had options available that were not open elsewhere. It is at least worth a try.

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Have you checked with any TAs to see if they may have some doubles available?

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They don’t have trays in the Windjammer.

OP- regarding all the suggestions for different things to bring to carry food, I’ll just add that you should use the WJ plates to get the food. Then once out of line, transfer it to whatever you want.

For my money and effort, I think piling food onto one or two plates, putting extra plates under those, and getting the plate covers from a server seems like the easiest alternative. No need to bring anything from home, and you can easily carry the covered plates.

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Since you have the agency's permission, I would also ask them if they are aware of anything else you may need. Surely there is someone at the agency that has experience with this sort of thing. It seems like you have all of your bases covered, but I understand wanting to double and triple check.

OP- what are your travel dates? If you want help searching, I love that stuff. Always help friends and family.

Alternatively, it is still pretty early in terms of flights. You could take a way and see approach.

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Thank you for the suggestions. Those sound interesting.

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Why not see an other part of the island? I have not gone east yet but went to Luquillo and the kiosks after the rain forest. Well worth it!

With such a short stay, I’m wondering if there’s enough time. Also, I’ve read that San Juan has recovered well. Does anyone know the condition of these areas?

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Thanks port. Any other suggestions?

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We are a group of 8, and will be porting here on the Allure of the Seas, scheduled for 7AM- 2 PM. Six of us have ported here at least a couple times, so have toured he ports and walked around Old San Juan. We have a beach day at Labadee, and one beach day is usually enough for us. Any suggestions for things to do in such a short window? Any must dos that we may have missed previously?

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If I recall correctly, the buffet usually had ice cream available (non soft serve), as sometimes I would get a scoop to pair with a baked dessert.

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On August 4, 2018, I booked four balcony guarantees for a December 2018 cruise. One was assigned about a week later. Two were assigned the day after we posted final payment (which was about a week before final payment due), and the fourth is still unassigned.

If you get the free gratuities for your balcony, do you not also get them for theirs if you book balcony?

I have not had personal experience but it is a legit site. I saw a recent thread where a person successfully got an item returned to them via that site.

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Thanks so much! Given the other options, my instincts are to go for it and just have backup plans in mind.

To avoid starting a similar thread, I hope you don't mind me following up with a little different details. We will be disembarking from Allure of the Seas on a Sunday morning in POM, and I am looking at a flight at the same time as OP, but from FLL. I feel like it should be okay based on my experience with self assist on the Oasis class ships, but others in my party are skeptical. Am I crazy, or should this be okay? I understand there are no guarantees!

OP- my advice is to just try it and see for yourself. We have been on cruises on Carnival, Princess, NCL, and Royal. In 2016, we booked Oasis although we were nervous about whether it was too big and too crowded, etc. Sure enough, the first day confirmed our fears. Lunch was hectic, and getting around after the muster drill was chaos. Then sail away happened and it didn't feel that way the rest of the week. We now LOVE Oasis class. Last year, we went on Allure. Guess what we are doing this year? Allure AGAIN. Never thought we would repeat a ship like that so soon, but here we are. We will likely do Harmony next year.

There are so many places to gather, eat, and be entertained on these ships that for the most part, the crowds are spread out. The exception of course is day one when everyone is doing the same thing at the same time. Just expect that going in and know that it calms down.

So I say try it, but be warned, you might just love it. :)

So you stand in line to get your food, then you stand in line to get a table? Is this limited to Allure or is this on all ships? Do they serve breakfast and lunch in the MDR's as an alternative? Still learning all that I can about Royal before we sail.

No, the line is before you get your food. They show you to a table, then you go get your food, just like in most land-based buffets. As others have said, it is confined to peak times. I much prefer to wait in line for a table then to hassle with having someone save a table or wander around with food, building frustration while the food gets cold!

Breakfast is served in the MDR daily.

Lunch is served there on sea days.

Right. I wouldn’t recommend it for data. But if someone just wants texting and the option to make some brief calls as needed, it is a good alternative.

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I know that both Verizon & AT&T have a $10 per day for unlimited voice & text, but only in port. Used

 

Verizon service last August in the Mediterranean. Wonder if the plan that you mentioned is port only.

No, it is for the cruise. It includes onboard and while in many ports, but not all. https://www.att.com/offers/international-plans/cruise-packages.html

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If all you’re concerned about is texting, and don’t need data, then you may be better off with a plan from your cell phone provider. AT&T has a cruise plan that includes 50 voice minutes and unlimited text for $50

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